County backs gun owners

Tuesday

Feb 12, 2013 at 9:52 PM

In the midst of a national debate surrounding gun control, Davidson County commissioners made it clear they support the right to bear arms.

BY NASH DUNNThe Dispatch

In the midst of a national debate surrounding gun control, Davidson County commissioners made it clear they support the right to bear arms.The Davidson County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday backing language in the Second Amendment of the Constitution, which reads, "A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."Fred McClure, chairman of the Davidson County Board of Commissioners, said the resolution was added to the board's regular meeting agenda after commissioners received an influx of comments and phone calls from citizens."The reason we are doing this seems political in nature, and it is to some extent," McClure said. "But (due to) the amount of conversation in our county since we had all of the shooting events up north, we have had all kinds of comments from citizens."McClure said he thought that type of response warranted board action.Davidson County resident Danny Bailey, a veteran of the U.S. Army, was one of about 11 people that spoke on the resolution before the board's vote."I served this country at 18 years old, and now they are telling me, 'I can die when I'm 18, but can't carry a pistol to protect my family?'" Bailey said. "The Second Amendment gives us that right, and no government can change that."All citizen speakers spoke in favor of the board's resolution and against and federal action reducing gun rights.Last week, U.S. House Democrats unveiled 15 proposals that largely mirrored President Barack Obama's gun control recommendations, which include universal background checks on gun purchases, a ban on large-capacity ammunition magazines and a reinstatement of the lapsed assault weapons ban.Local resident Dawn Hash said the President does not speak for her. She said she voted against him for a reason."I stand and rise for my grandchildren to have the right to protect themselves," Hash said. "All law-abiding citizens should not be made or bullied to give up their rights."The county's resolution states the United States and North Carolina supreme courts have ruled the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to bear arms.Before voting on the resolution, commissioner Steve Jarvis motioned that some of the language in the document be deleted. His motion concerned the last "whereas," which originally read, "This board further recognizes the unassailable right of the law-abiding citizen to buy, own and possess firearms for the legitimate purposes of sport, collection and self-defense, free from excessive restraint and regulation."Jarvis asked that the language "...for the legitimate purposes of sport, collection and self-defense" be deleted, as well as the word "excessive." The board approved those changes unanimously.In 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to possess a firearm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within a home, according to court records.Barney Hill, of Thomasville, said he wholeheartedly agreed with what the commissioners were trying to accomplish. However, Hill said he'd rather the commissioners approve an ordinance, not a resolution."With a resolution, you have to beg somebody else to do something; with an ordinance, you do it all yourselves," Hill said.Jason Varner, of Thomasville, expressed his admiration for the board's unusual, but unanimous support of citizens' rights as individuals."Allow me to say what so many refuse to; the Second Amendment was not created in order to protect the state's right to maintain an army for defense nor was it intended to protect the individual from the thief, the vagabond, or starvation," Varner said. "The Second Amendment was penned in order to reign in the allotted power bestowed unto our government."In other business, commissioners:• Approved a resolution in recognition of outgoing Lexington City Manager John Gray. After being honored, Gray stated, "It's certainly fitting for me, having begun my career with Davidson County, that my final recognition come here. It was always important to me that the local governments in Davidson County recognize each other and have the need to support each other."Nash Dunn can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 227, or at nash.dunn@the-dispatch.com.

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